State estimation in distribution grids

Problems and techniques for estimating the state of an observable distribution grid are investigated. A distribution grid is observable if the state of the grid can be fully determined. For the simulations, the modified 34-bus IEEE test feeder is used. The measurements needed for the state estimation are generated by the ladder iterative technique. Two methods for the state estimation are analyzed: weighted least squares and extended Kalman filter. Both estimators try to find the most probable state based on the available measurements. The result is that the Kalman filter mostly needs less iterations and calculation time. The disadvantage of the Kalman filter is that it needs some foreknowlegde about the state.